Adventism began in Massachusetts in 1831, under the
leadership of William Miller. In 1833, in Low Hampton, New York, he began to
preach that the end of the world was at hand, publishing a pamphlet entitled,
“Evidences from Scripture and History of the Second Coming of Christ about the
year 1843, and of His Personal Reign of One Thousand Years.”

When this prophecy failed, he declared that he had erred in his calculation
and set the time in 1844. This likewise failing, he set 1845 as the year. The
third failure divided his followers and out of the fragments Seventh-Day
Adventism was constructed. Adding some new doctrine, the principle one of which
was Sabbath-keeping, that is, Saturday, - for to this time all the followers of
Miller had kept Sunday – Elder James White and his wife, in 1846, became the
leaders of the Seventh-Day branch of Adventism.

As a result of various divisions, there are now six bodies of
Adventists (Advents Christians, Church of God, Churches of God in Jesus Christ,
Evangelical Adventists, Life and Advent Union and Seventh-Day Adventists). As a
rule, all these divisions now simply wait for the second coming of Christ
without making any attempt to set the date. Three things characterize all
Adventist teaching: Prophecy, Sabbath and Sleep of the Soul.

(L. G. Tomlinson, Churches of Today, 1927, page 76)

Some of the important teachings of the Seventh-Day Adventists
are the following:

SDA teach: There are two separate laws given at Sinai

They teach that there are two separate laws given at Mt. Sinai.
The table below shows the terms they use for each.

Written on Stone

Written on scrolls

Moral

Ceremonial

Law of the Lord

Law of Moses

Eternal

Temporary

Spiritual

Civil

10 Commandments

Book of the law

The “book of the law” contained all five books of the
Pentateuch.

The book of the law quotes the 10 commandments – twice.
Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5

Luke 2:22-23 – Law of the Lord and law of Moses – Lev. 12

2 Chronicles 31:3 – offerings, sacrifices, Sabbaths – Law of
the Lord

Nehemiah 8:1, 8, 14, 18

There is just one law – Malachi 4:4

SDA teach: Only the “ceremonial law” was nailed to the cross

SDA teach: The 10 Commandments are still binding

2 Corinthians 3:7-11 – Key phrases

Written and engraved on stones (7)

Was passing away (7)

Is passing away (11)

The end of what was passing away (13)

The veil is taken away in Christ (14)

The veil is taken away (16)

Amos 8:5, 9-10

Question: When will the Sabbath be gone?

Answer: It will come to pass in that day -
Sun will go down at noon
Turn your feast into mourning
Mourning for an only son

Colossians 2:14-17

Nailed to the cross (died when Jesus died) 14

We are not judged by those laws – meat, holy days, Sabbath

They were a shadow; Christ is the substance. 17

Ephesians 2:13-18

Abolished the law of commandments

Contained in ordinances

Took away both (law of Moses and patriarchal law)

Now all are to be part of one body, the church of Christ.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

God promises a NEW covenant.

This law will be different
Written in the hearts
Personal relationship with God
God will forgive their sins and remember them no more

Hosea 2:11

All these will cease – feast days, new moons, Sabbaths,
appointed feasts

Some are in the 10 commandments, others in the ceremonial
law.

SDA teach: We are to keep the Sabbath Day.

Colossians 2:16 – do not judge others on their observance of
the Sabbath

Amos 8:5, 9-10 – Sabbath restrictions ended when Jesus died

Hosea 2:11 – Sabbath days will cease

2 Corinthians 3:7-11 – Sabbath is part of the law written on
stone

SDA teach: The soul sleeps after death

The spirit does not die with the body

Ecclesiastes 3:21

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Matthew 10:28

Luke 23:42-43, 46; Acts 7:59

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Departed spirits are conscious

Matthew 17:3

Revelation 6:9-11

Luke 16:19-31

It is the body that “sleeps” until the resurrection.

Matthew 27:52

John 11:11-14

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

SDA teach: 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth and make
predictions of when the 2nd Coming will take place

The Adventists set many dates for the return of Christ (1843,
44, 45,47, 50, 52, 55, 63, 66, 68, 77)

They teach the doctrine of Pre-Millennialism.
I will not take the space here to discuss this teaching.